The Swiss still have compulsory military service for men. Germany ended conscription in 2011.

__________________"Once the writer in every individual comes to life (and that time is not far off), we are in for an age of universal deafness and lack of understanding."
(Milan Kundera, Book of Laughter and Forgetting, 1980)

That's just because they've never had the opportunity to go to an outdoor range and try out different pistols and rifles. There's a reason why our ranges have so many guns to rent - many of the people renting them are from the UK.

There are numerous gun clubs and ranges here were people can try pistols and rifles. 98 percent of the firearms owned here are owned by men so it shows there is even less interest among women

Quote:

They will probably remember this for the rest of their lives.
I always like seeing Europeans at the ranges here they seem so excited and happy, make me feel lucky to live somewhere we can have guns.

They can have firearms in Europe. Europe has lots of countries with different firearms laws.

They can have firearms in Europe. Europe has lots of countries with different firearms laws.

They can.. but not as easy as dropping in a range and spending $50.

I have know a few people from parts Europe and many said it was very expensive with a lot of legal applications. People have told me that in England to even get a 22lr was a huge hassle and a good amount of money and the rifle had to be kept in a locker at a club.

No sure of most European countries but in the 4mo I traveled around Europe to only private guns I saw were in Switzerland where many people got them free and were required to have them.
I did see a few private guns in Italy but I am not to sure how "legal" they were.

Pilot:
A few years ago a guy stopped by a small shooting club in n.e. MS.
He had served in the Bundeswehr and had trained with the HK-91/G-3.
This is also the type of rifle he brought to the range.

I will ask a friend of mine who is from Essen, in Nordrhein-Westfalen, but not many years ago Germans could either join the military or work in social services, working with the elderly etc.

It is expensive for Germans to apply for the shooting license and as with many activities there, study the classroom theory over several sessions, followed by practical training, and must keep proficient, storing the carefully documented quantity of ammo and guns in the club.

Think about European wars in the 20th century, and many Europeans' views of guns seem to be a sharp reaction to the horrors.
A middle-aged Dutch guy was at the same bed and breakfast in Hall Austria a year ago.
His viewed Austrians'/Germans' interest in target shooting (however small a fraction) as a sign of their aggressive nature.

I have know a few people from parts Europe and many said it was very expensive with a lot of legal applications. People have told me that in England to even get a 22lr was a huge hassle and a good amount of money and the rifle had to be kept in a locker at a club

Any calibre rifle can be got in the UK up to 50 call for hunting and target shooting. You do have to have a firearms certificate in the part of the UK I live in if you are in a club you can get handguns I have three. All firearms have to be kept at the ( owners address not a club ).

Home office guide. The safekeeping condition attached to firearms or
shotgun certificates requires that the guns and
section 1 ammunition must be stored securely to
prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable,
unauthorised people taking or using them. Any
other person who does not hold a firearm or
shotgun certificate is included in the term
‘unauthorised’.
Security. Level 1
This will be applicable in most cases and can be
met by using a suitable gun cabinet. Where one
firearm only is held, a gun clamp may suffice. Other
considerations would be a low crime rate area and
whether the property has outer doors and windows
fitted with suitable locking devices.

Quote:

It is expensive for Germans to apply for the shooting license and as with many activities there, study the classroom theory over several sessions, followed by practical training, and must keep proficient, storing the carefully documented quantity of ammo and guns in the club

There is no training required for owning any firearm in the UK. There is a restriction on the amount of ammo you can have at any one time its 1000 rds for each firearm in the UK. This amount can be increased if required. Again all firearms and ammo must be kept at the firearms owners home (address not a club).

I'm glad they had a great experience, but I'm with the "safety first" crowd. I don't even let my kids point or shoot their nerf guns at anyone let alone have their fingers on the trigger(even when the gun in their hands is invisible). To me it's all about forming good habits and being a responsible "teacher".

__________________
Half the country hates my business, the other half my hobby.

Manta, can anyone show up at a gun club in Ireland and shoot, or do you have to become a member first? If you have to be a member, how do you join if you know nothing about shooting

I have to distinguish between N Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. N Ireland is part of the UK handguns are banned in the Republic of Ireland. Don't get me wrong the firearms laws are strict here but not as strict as some think. You can joining a club and use club guns under supervision there is a years probation before the club will back you to get a hand gun for example. There is no set limit on the number of firearms you can one I know members with 10 or more hand guns. Country to what some believe all firearms and ammo must be kept at the owners address not at the club.

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